Premium Processing is an optional service offered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows certain immigration petitions to be adjudicated on an expedited timeline in exchange for an additional government filing fee. When Premium Processing is requested, USCIS guarantees action on the case by issuing an approval, denial, request for evidence (RFE), or...
H-1B Information
Jan262026
The FY 2027 H-1B lottery is approaching fast. But what will this year’s lottery look like? Will there even be a lottery? To qualify for an H-1B, employers are required to submit an electronic registration on behalf of potential candidates. Each year there is a total of 85,000 visas available, 65,000 of which are reserved...
The Trump administration is once again going after the H-1B program and has now introduced a rule that will radically change the H-1B lottery for FY 2027. Background Every March foreign nationals enter the H-1B cap lottery in the hopes of competing for an H-1B to either begin employment in the United States or transition...
In a significant legal development affecting U.S. immigration policy and employer hiring strategies, a federal district court in Washington, D.C. has upheld the Trump administration’s controversial $100,000 fee on certain H-1B visa petitions, rejecting a legal challenge brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The business lobby has since filed an appeal and continues to...
The U.S. Department of State has announced that, beginning December 15, all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants will now undergo an online presence review, a screening measure previously required only for F, M, and J students and exchange visitor categories. Expanded Social Media Review Requirements Applicants in the H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J visa...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has provided additional clarification on how the $100,000 H-1B payment under the recent Presidential Proclamation will be applied and processed. The measure, which takes effect September 21, 2025 (12:01 a.m. EDT), significantly changes the filing requirements for certain H-1B petitions. Who Is Subject to the $100,000 Fee The...
The current government shutdown has created significant uncertainty for employers and foreign workers navigating the H-1B process. While the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) remains operational, other key agencies involved in the process, particularly the Department of Labor (DOL), have been directly affected, making it challenging for employers to move forward with H-1B filings....
The headlines have been dominated by talk of a proposed $100,000 H-1B filing fee. While that number grabs attention, it’s a distraction from the changes that will truly reshape the H-1B landscape. Employers should be far more focused on three key developments: prevailing wage increases, a weighted lottery system, and Project Firewall. Prevailing Wage Increases...